Mechanism for driving speedometers.



J. G. PERRIN. MECHANISM FOR DRIVING SPEEDOMETERS.-

APPLICATiQN FILED AUG. I, 1911.

Patented Apr. 24, 191?.

m wwn UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

JOHN G. PERRIN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO MOTOR PATENTS COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

MECHANISM FOR DRIVING SPEEDOIVIETERS.

1,223 902 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 24;, 1917. Application filed. August 1, 1911. Serial No. 641,875.

To all whom it may concern: 2 is a sectional plan view of the driv- Be it known that I. JOHN G. PERRIN. a ing mechanism showing the relative posicitizen of the United States, residing at Detion of the knuckle and the spindle. troit, in the county of \Vayne and State of Figs. 3 and 4: are detail views showing one 5 Michigan, have invented certain new and form of coupling between the wheel hub useful Improvements in Mechanism for and the driving shaft. Driving Speedometer-s, of which the follow- Referring to the accompanying drawings ing is asl'pecification. showing one form of mechanism embodying The primary object of this invention is to my invention, the wheel 1 may be of any de- 10 provide a speedometer drive which shall sired construction and is mounted upon the avoid the use of exposed gearing or pinions spindle 2 of the axle, which is preferably of any kind, in which the driving mechaformed integral with the knuckle 3 sup nism shall be entirely inclosed and protected ported by the yoke 4 in the usual manner. from accidental injury. Suitable anti-friction bearings 5 are pro- 15 Heretofore it has been usual to secure a vided between the wheel and the spindle.

gear or driving pinion to the hub of the The spindle is preferably offset from the wheel which engaged with a train of gears knuckle as shown in Fig. 2 and is provided and actuated the speedometer, but such gear with a central passage or bore 6 extending was exposed and subject to injury or clogtherethrough and provided at or near each 20 ging so that great diliiculty has been exend with hearing sleeves or bushings 7. A

perienced in obtaining an accurate speed shaft 8 is mounted in said bore and is rotarecofd. It has also been customary, in case table on the bearings provided by said bush deinountable wheels were used, to drive the ings. Smallopenings 9 are'provided through speedometer from the driving shaft or from the spindle communicating with the central 25 some part of the transmission, but such con bore, and providing means for lubricating struction is objectionable because of the dilfithe shaft bearings. At one end said shaft culty of obtaining access to the parts formis provided with a spiral gear 10 which ing the peedometer drive, and particularly meshes with a spiral gear 1] provided on the the difficulty in securing the same in place end of a shaft 12 opcratively connected with 30 without interference with other parts of the the speedometer (not shown). It is obvious,

mechanism and properly protecting same however, that any preferred form of driving from injury. connection between the driving shaft and This invention is not only designed to the speedometer shaft may be provided as avoid the foregoing objections, but a further desired.

5 object of the invention is to provide a drive The driving connection between the drivwhich can be used in connection with a Wheel ing shaft and the speedometer shaft is in having either demountable rims, or in which closed in a suitable casing 14 so as to preventv the wheel as a whole is demountable. dust from obtaining access thereto and to A further object of. the invention is to permit proper lubrication. Said casing may provide a construction which shall be relabe secured to the knuckle in any suitable tively noiseless, and which may be suitably manner; preferably a facingor shoulder is lubricated so as to keep the parts in proper formed on the knuckle, and the casing is working condition. secured thereto by screws 15.

The various other objects of theinven- At its front or free end a. coupling is 45 tion will be more fully. set forth in the folsecured to the end of the shaft 8 which may lowing description of one form of meehabe connected to the hub of the wheel in any nism embodying my invention, which consuitable manner. Preferably said coupling sists in the new and novel features of concomprises a plate 16 which is secured to the struction and combinations of parts-hereinend of the shaft. Said coupling is provided 50 after set forth and claimed. with an upwardly and rearwardly project- In the accompanying drawingsiing flange having slots or recesses which are Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a engaged by arms or extensions 18 provided vehicle axle and portion of a wheel provided on the end of the hub. It will be obvious with my improved driving mechanism. that any rotary movement of the Wheel hub will be communicated through the shaft 8 and the spiral gears 10 and 11 to the speedometer.

By means of this construction the driving mechanism is entirely inclosed, so that it is protected from injury and atthe same time it does not interfere with the other parts of the mechanism. A much more accurate record can be obtained than when the gears 10 which drive the speedometer are exposed lbsi s nga dily accessibleflfon repairs.

)ivot than is now possible because w'heel-centers may be placed *vide room for the installation of the speedometerdrive gear.

Although I have shown one form of mechanism embodying my invention, it is obvious that many changes within the skill of the mechanic may be made in the details of the construction herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invcntion provided the means set forth in the following claims be employed.

I claim as my invention 1. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a stationary axle, a steering spindle pivoted at the end of said axle with its axis in off set relation to its pivot, and a wheel rotatably mounted or said spindle, of an indicator driving mechanism comprising a shaft arranged in said spindle, gears at the inner end of said shaft, and a driving'connection between said shaft and said wheel at the outer end of said spindle.

Gupta! of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

' mounted on the spindle,

connection between the wheel 2. In a motor vehicle, the combination of a stationary axle, a steering wheel spindle pivotally connected with said axle, and having its axis off set rearwardly thereof, a wheel rotatably mounted on said spindle, a shaft extending longitudinally through said spindle, and a driving connection between the wheel and said shaft.

3. In a'motor vehicle, the combination of an axle, a steering wheel spindle pivotally connected with said axle and having its axis off set relative thereto longitudinally of the vehicle, a wheel rotatably mounted on said spindle, an axially arranged shaft supported in bearings in said spindle, connection between the Wheel and said shaft at the outer end of the spindle.

1. In a vehicle, the combination with the axle, the steering spindle, and the Wheel of an indicator driving mechanism comprising an axially arranged shaft extending through said spindle, a vertical pivot connecting said spindle and a driving to said axle and arranged'wholly at one side,

of the axis of the spindle, and a driving 5'. In a vehicle, the combination with "the axleand the steering spindle, of an indicator driving mechanism including a shaft :extending axially through the spindle and a pivotal connection for said spindle to said axle having its axis offset from the axis of said shaft.

This specification signed and witnessed this 21 day of July, A.'D., 1911.

JOHN G. PERRIN. Signed in the presence of HELEN M. DAMES,

Ammosn L. OSnEA.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

and said shaft. 

